Honoring a Legacy of Outstanding Faculty

Head of School Michael Wirtz hosted a reception at Gage House celebrating the four teachers recently named to endowed chairs and the donors who endowed each of our school’s ten chairs. Read on.
Faculty honorees included: Melissa Boviero (Akin Family Chair), Tessa Johnson (Sternberg Family Chair), Wil Lobko (Allstrom Chair in Foreign Affairs), and Willie Teacher (Ferraro Family Chair in the Arts). All current and former chair holders were invited and also celebrated along with the families who endowed each chair.

Each recipient, like those chosen to hold these chairs in the past, represents and upholds the best about the teaching profession: professionalism, dedication, humor, meaningful relationships with students and visible commitment to their growth, passion for their disciplines, and an enduring belief in the power of education.

Here are a few excerpts of what was written about the new chairs:

• “...positive impact upon the school community at large cannot be overstated.”
• “[models] strength of character and emotional courage...”
• “...brings an unbridled enthusiasm for both students and the subject matter.”
• “collaborates with colleagues in all three divisions on a regular basis and helps to forge lasting relationships”
• “among the most nimble and creative individuals with whom I have had the good fortune to work”
• “places students at the center of the class—but with pedagogical wisdom.”
• “makes sure that students see the connections between what they are learning in the classroom and the outside world.”
• “one of those unique teachers who is able to engage and inspire students from all over the spectrum.”

Please join us in congratulating Wil, Willie, Tessa, and Melissa. Likewise, please join us in thanking the philanthropic leaders who endowed these chairs.

Here’s a full list of current and previous holders of Hackley’s endowed chairs.

Akin Family Chair
1998-02 – Kerry Clingen
2002-06 – Diana Kaplan
2006-10 – Sue Harmon
2010-14 – Dianne Fahy
2014-18 – Melissa Stanek
2018-22 – Melissa Boviero

Allstrom Chair in Foreign Affairs
2006-10 – Vladimir Klimenko
2010-14 – Adrianne Pierce
2014-18 – Adrianne Pierce (re-appointed)
2018-22 – Wil Lobko

Alumni Humanities Chair
1987-95 – Arthur Naething
1995-03 – John McAuliffe
2003-07 – Helen Erickson
2007-11 – Dawn Crainer
2011-15 – Margaret Randazzo
2015-19 - Dr. Richard Robinson

Caputo Family Chair
2002-05 – Dave Allison
2005-09 – Steve Fitzpatrick
2009-13 – Beth Retzloff
2013-17 – Merideth Maddox
2017-21 – Oshon Temple

M.H. Davidson Family Chair in History
1987-02 – Walter Schneller
2002-07 – John Van Leer
2007-08 – Andy King (became US Director)
2008-12 – Bill Davies
2012-16 – Eliot Smith
2016-20 – Jared Fishman

Ferraro Family Chair in the Arts
2002-06 – Erick Storckman
2006-10 – Greg Cice
2010-14 – Mark Green
2014-18 – Heidi Wolfgang
2018-22 – Willie Teacher

Headmaster’s Chair
1989-03 – Randy McNaughton
2003-08 – Rob Pickert
2008-12 – Kerry Clingen
2012-16 – Diana Kaplan
2016-20 – Keshena Richardson

Wallace W. McLean Chair
1988-1990 – Gerard Murphy
1990 - Doug Clark (until retires)

Parents’ Chair
1999-02 – Kirsten Karlsrud
2002-05 – John Leistler
2005-07 – Joan Fox
2007-10 – Jenny Leffler
2010-13 – Courtney Kelley
2013-16 – Regina DiStefano
2016-19 – Diane Remenar

Sternberg Family Chair
2004-06 – Pavel Litvinov (retired 2006)
2006-10 – Richard Robinson
2010-14 – Raegan Russell
2014-18 – Erica Jablon
2018-22 – Tessa Johnson
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